324 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/QO 



tract from the Yeates family Bible may not be without interest in 

 connection with this event : 



Jasper Yeates, son oi JoJin and Elizabeth Ycatcs, born April, 1745; 

 died March 14th, 1S17. 



Sarah Biird, daughter oi James and Sarah Bitrd, born January ist, 

 1749; died October 25th, 1829. 



The above were married December 30th, 1767. 



Issue: Mary Yeates, Ijorn at Lancaster, March 13th, 1771; died 

 August 27th, 1836. 



John Yeates, born June 29th, 1772; died January 7th, 1844. 



Elizabeth Yeates, born April 4th, 1778; died August 3d, 1867. 



Margaret Yeates, born April 24th, 1780; died February ist, 1855. 



Catharine Yeates, born December ist, 1783; died June 7th, 1S66. 



CHAPTER LIV. 



Death of Franklin — Impromptu thereon at a Dinner Party by Dr. Smith — 

 Capped by Mr. Thomas Willing — Franklin's Funeral — Dr. Smith to 

 Dr. West — The Same to the Same — Dr. Smith's Eulogy on Franklin 

 — Une Anecdote de Famille — Dr. Odel's Verses on the Franklin Stove 

 — Franklin a Natural Philosopher and not a Statesman. 



On Saturday, April 17th, 1790, died, in the 88th year of his 

 age, the philosopher, Benjamin Franklin. On the evening of 

 his death a company of gentlemen were seated at the dinner 

 table of Governor Mifflin, at the Falls of Schuylkill. It con- 

 sisted of Thomas McKean, Henry Hill (a private gentleman of 

 rank in old Philadelphia), the Hon. Thomas Willing,* David Rit- 

 tenhouse, and Dr. Smith. During the dinner a great thunder- 

 storm arose, and Primus, a favorite negro body-servant of Dr. Smithy 

 brought to Governor Mifflin's house the news just received from 

 the city at Dr. Smith's of the event. Dr. Smith, under the impulse 

 of the moment, wrote the following lines without leaving the 

 table : 



Cease ! cease, ye clouds, your elemental strife, 

 Why rage ye thus, as if to threaten life? 

 Seek, seek no more to shake our souls with dread, 

 What busy mortal told you " Franklin's dead?" 

 What, thoui^h he yields at Jove's imperious nod, 

 With Rittenhouse he left his magic rod. 



*For some notice of this eminent citizen of Philadelphia, see Appendi.x No. VI. 



